The Agora, the civic centre of ancient Athens, was laid out in the 6th century BC. Prominant in the distance is the Hephaisteion, a Doric temple of the 5th century BC dedicated to Hephaistos and Athena. In the foreground stands the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles of the 10th century.Archaeological excavations by the American School of Classical Studies have continued at the site since 1931.View to the north-west from the Acropolis.